A Treatise of Episcopacy, Part 2 · Chapter 23
CHAP. XXIII. Four dou…le charges I have now proved againſt the foredeſcribed Dioceſane f…rm of Government, the leaſt of which alone is enough to prove it utterly unlawful.
1. THat it overthroweth the ancient Species of Churches, and ſetteth up another ſort of Churches, in their place; and ſets up one Church of that kind inſtead of many hundreds.
2. That it overthroweth the ancient office of a Presbyter, by taking away one part of his work (viz. Government) which as much belongeth to him as the reſt: And maketh a new office of ſubject Presbyters, which Cod never made.
3. That it overthroweth the ancient ſort of fixed Epiſcopacy, (as diſtinct from Itinerants and Arch-biſhops); taking down a thouſand or very many Biſhops, even the Biſhops of particular Churches, and inſtead of them all ſetting up but one over all thoſe Churches; as if all Biſhops were put down, and the Archbiſhops only take all their charges and work upon them.
4. That it maketh the Diſcipline or Government inſtituted by Chriſt, in the very matter of it to become impoſſible and impracticable, and ſo excludeth it, under pretence that they are the only perſons impowred for it; and they ſet up a kind of ſecular Courts and Government in its ſtead; and ſo are practically Eraſtians.
I ſhall conclude all with theſe Conſectaries which follow what is already proved.
Cons. 1. Such Dioceſane principles greatly ſtrengthen the Browniſts cauſe, who deny us to have any Church or Miniſtry of divine inſtitution: as is before ſhewed. And as for them that ſay. [No form of Church Government is of divine inſtitution]. Anſ. 1. It is well that they are forced to except both the univerſal and the particular Churches, and expound this only of Aſſociations of Churches. 2. It is well that yet they confeſs that the office of Paſtors is of Divine inſtitution; who are made Church Governours by Chriſt. 3. But it is ſcant well that yet they ſubſcribe to the book of Ordination, which aſſerteth the Divine right of three diſtinct orders, if they do not believe it. 4. And theſe alſo too much gratifie the Browniſt, who affirmeth that we have no Churches of Divine inſtitution, and thinketh that it is no fault to ſeparate, but from a Church of humane invention.
Conſ. 2. To ſay that no man High or Low is bound in his place and calling to endeavour a Reformation of ſuch a Church-Government, and ſo to juſtifie the neglecters and oppoſers of all ſuch Reformation is to draw upon a mans ſelf the guilt of ſo much pollution, and of the ruin of ſuch a multitude of ſouls, as ſhould make that Conſcience ſmart and tremble, which is not ſeared and paſt all feeling.
Conſ. 3. To ſwear or ſubſcribe, or ſay and declare, that though millions ſhould ſwear to endeavour ſuch a reformation, in their places and callings, by lawful means, there is no obligation lieth on any one of them from that Vow or Oath: So to endeavour it, is—The Lord have Mercy on that Land, City or Soul that is guilty of it—
Conſ. 4. All carnal intereſt and all carnal reaſon is on the Dioceſanes ſide, and all the luſts of the heart of man, and conſequently all the Devil can do: Therefore while carnal Chriſtians make a Religion of their luſts and intereſt, and pride, and covetouſneſs, and idleneſs are more predominant, than the fear of God and the love of ſouls, no wonder if the Dioceſane cauſe prevail with ſuch.
Conſ. 5. A truly ſanctified heart knoweth the nature and worth of Grace, and the nature and weight of the Paſtoral Office, and is devoted to God and the good of ſouls, and contemneth the eaſe and pleaſures of the fleſh and the riches and the honours of this World, and is the beſt argument in the World againſt ſuch Dioceſane Prelacy; and muſt at leaſt be weakened before it can ſubſcribe never to endeavour to amend it.
Conſ. 6. No wonder if the moſt ſerious zealous practical ſort of Chriſtians are ordinarily againſt ſuch Dioceſanes Prelacy, when it hath the deſcribed effects and that thoſe among themſelves.
Conſ. 7. No wonder if the principal work of ſuch Dioceſanes, be to ſilence faithful preachers and perſecute zealous Chriſtians, where they had eſpouſed a cauſe ſo contrary to the intereſt of Godlineſs that all theſe are unreconcilable thereto: Speak not of any other Prelacy.
Conſ. 8. Take but from ſuch Prelacy the plumes which it hath ſtolen from Magiſtrates and Presbyters, and it will be a naked thing, and ſimply a name.
Conſ. 9. If Magiſtrates were not the Prelates Executioners or ſeconded them not by writs de excommunicato capiendo, &c. ſuch Prelacy would give up as dead, or aweary of it ſelf.
Conſ. 10. The ill Mixtures of force and ſecular power, corrupteth Church Diſcipline, and depriveth it of its proper nature, uſe and force, maketh it another thing, or undiſcernable.
Conſ. 11. Though in caſes of neceſſity civil Rulers may truſt Church men with part of their power about religion, it is far better out of neceſſity that they keep if wholly to themſelves. And let them thunder their excommunications without any power of the Sword.
Conſ. 12. Such Biſhops and Arch-Biſhops as overthrow not the Churches officers, and diſcipline of Chriſt, muſt be ſubmitted to by all peaceable men, though we cannot prove them as ſuch to be of Divine inſtitution.